Budapest, Hungary
City population: 1728868
Duration: 2006 – 2007
Implementation status: Completed
Scale: Meso-scale: Regional, metropolitan and urban level
Project area: 40000 m2
Type of area: Previous derelict area, Protected Area
Last updated: October 2021

Before the intervention, the dam was a derelict former industrial and recreational area. (Reference 6) It was transformed into a green recreational park of the southern part of Budapest. 40,000 square metres of grass was laid, 700 trees, 20,000 shrubs and 20,000 perennials were planted. (Reference 4) The park now is a home to a biodiverse population of wild birds. It is one of the few places of the city that have direct connection to the Danube, giving space for strolling, doing sport, playing and relaxing. In 2018, a large-scale development began next to the dam, with the aim of creating a new city center. This would make the park a place for leisure for much greater number of people, but may be detrimental to the ecosystem of the dam. (Reference 6)

Kopaszi gát
Kopaszi gát
Source: Ref. 4

Overview

Nature-based solution

  • Grey infrastructure featuring greens
  • Blue infrastructure
  • Riverbank/Lakeside greens
  • Parks and urban forests
  • Large urban parks or forests
  • Rivers/streams/canals/estuaries

Key challenges

  • Water management (SDG 6)
  • Improvements to water quality
  • Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
  • Green space creation and/or management
  • Regeneration, land-use and urban development
  • Conversion of former industrial areas
  • Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
  • Social interaction
  • Health and well-being (SDG 3)
  • Enabling opportunities for physical activity
  • Creation of opportunities for recreation
  • Economic development and employment (SDG 8)
  • Economic development: service sectors

Focus

Creation of new green areas, Transformation of previously derelict areas

Project objectives

The main goals of the project include: - creating green public space and a recreational area (Reference 4); - enabling physical activity with the re-creation of formerly abandoned watersport centres; - providing a safe but direct contact to the river for the occupants; - providing direct contact to nature; - providing easy access to the public space; - providing space for catering services (Reference 1, 2).

Implementation activities

The dam was neglected area which was formerly used for recreation but was heavily polluted by nearby industrial activity. After socialism, it became protected for its relatively untouched wildlife. (Ref 7) To implement the project, the protected status was abandoned but measures were taken to manage the environment of the area: - environmental regeneration: the western part of the dam was cleaned, and the quality of the water was improved by dredging: 2m thick sludge was removed from the riverbed (Ref 4) - cleaning the area from the existing overgrown greens being the characteristic plants of the riverside (Ref 3) - The removal of abandoned buildings and fences, rubbish and debris (Ref 4) - 40,000 m2 of grass was laid, 700 trees, 20,000 shrubs and 20,000 perennials were planted (Ref 4) To enable social interaction and physical activity, the following measures were implemented: - setting up 14 kiosks for catering services - creating a theater stage on the water - 13,000 m2 of pavement was laid - Former watersport centres were recreated - creating curving walkways to help the visitors to discover the park and to allow the use of the park in different water levels (References 2, 3, 4, and 7)

Main beneficiaries

  • Private sector/Corporate/Company
  • Citizens or community groups

Governance

Management set-up

  • Co-governance with government and non-government actors

Type of initiating organisation

  • Local government/municipality
  • Private sector/corporate actor/company

Participatory approaches/ community involvement

  • Unknown

Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project

In 2003, the local municipality decided to develop the area. To implement the project, it created the company "Öböl XI. Kft" After the first stage of the project was completed, the municipality sold most of its shares and privatized the company. According to the municipality, (Reference 6) the purpose of the remaining ownership is to stay informed about the company's strategic decisions as a co-owner.

Project implemented in response to ...

... an EU policy or strategy? Unknown
... a national policy or strategy? Unknown
... a local policy or strategy? Yes (The area was a locally protected area of the 11th district aiming for maintaining the biodiversity there, however, in 2004 the local government decided to dissolve the protection so that to please the investors (Reference 5).)

Financing

Total cost

Unknown

Source(s) of funding

  • Public local authority budget
  • Corporate investment

Type of funding

  • Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)

Non-financial contribution

Unknown

Impacts and Monitoring

Environmental impacts

  • Water management and blue areas
  • Improved water quality

Economic impacts

  • Increase of green jobs (e.g. paid employment positions)
  • Stimulate development in deprived areas
  • Attraction of business and investment

Socio-cultural impacts

  • Safety
  • Increased perception of safety
  • Social justice and cohesion
  • Improved access to urban green space
  • Increased opportunities for social interaction
  • Health and wellbeing
  • Gain in activities for recreation and exercise

Type of reported impacts

Achieved impacts

Presence of formal monitoring system

Unknown

Presence of indicators used in reporting

No evidence in public records

Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports

Yes

Availability of a web-based monitoring tool

No evidence in public records

References

1. Váradi, J. (2006). Új zöldpark Dél-Budán. Octogon [insert]. (2), Source link.
2. Csikós, G. (2006). új vízparti városrész születik: Építészet és tájrehabilitáció. Octogon [insert]. (2). pp.
3. Bajor, Z. (2013). Ökológiai Állapotfelmérő Adatlap. [online] Available at: Source link [Accessed: 19.06.2020].
4. Source link. (2009). Park a gáton. [online] Available at: Source link 19.06.2020].
5. Batár, Zs. (2009). Photo of the Kopaszi Dam. [image] Available at: Source link 19.06.2020].
6. Tolnai, G. Berki, M. (2018). Városi diverzitás a vízpartokon. A Duna-part funkcionális átalakulása Budapest déli részén. [online] Available at: Source link [Accessed: 11.07.2020]
7. Source link. (year unknown) Kopaszi-gát. [online] Available at: Source link [Accessed: 11.07.2020]
8. Szabó, P., Mihályi, Z., Szomorjai, T., Tóth, E. (2015). Explanatory Factors of the
Expansion of Recreation Function on the Bank of Danube River in Budapest. Deturope, 7, 2: 291-308 Available at: Source link [Accessed: 11.07.2020]
9. Tolnai, G. (2018) Budapest’s fragmented riverfront renewal: Western trends interspersed with post-socialist characteristics. National Committee of Geography of Belgium, Société Royale Belge de Géographie, p.7. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 11.07.2020]
10. Újbuda Municipality of the 11th distroct of Budapest. (2006). 2007 tavaszára elkészül a Kopaszi-gát és a Lágymányosi-öböl partja. [online] Available at: Source link [Accessed: 13.07.2020]
Kopaszi gát
Kopaszi gát
Source: Ref. 4
Kopaszi gát
Kopaszi gát
Source: Ref. 4